Cindy Wall - The Maker Cookbook

About the Authors

Cindy R. Wall, MLS, has been head of Childrens Services at the Southington (CT) Library and Museum for 10 years. She authored a chapter in Tablet Computers in School Libraries and Classrooms, an American Library Association publication, and she reviews books and apps for School Library Journal. Wall won the Connecticut Library Association Publicity Award and a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant to expand her iPad programming.

Lynn M. Pawloski, MLS, is a childrens librarian at the Southington Library and Museum. She holds a masters degree in library science from Southern Connecticut State University and has worked in both school and public libraries. She enjoys developing new library programs in which children use their imaginations and are allowed to MAKE a mess!.

Alternate Reality Book Discussion Questions Ages 710

Da Wild, Da Crazy, Da Vinci by Jon Scieszka

In Da Wild, Da Crazy, Da Vinci, what country are Sam, Joe, and Fred visiting? How did they get there? Why did they wish to go to Italy?

Leonardo da Vinci hides some of his secrets by writing in a special language. What is it? Do you think you could write or even speak backward?

Leonardo da Vinci seems to have quite a sense of humor. Can you name any of the jokes he invented in this book?

Who is Captain Nassti? Do you think his name suits him? Why or why not?

What is the power drain? Who does Joe use the power drain on and why?

Lord Borgia does not ask. He commands! What does Lord Borgia command Sam, Joe, and Fred to do?

Why do you think Leonardo gives the boys the last name da Brooklyn? Does this give you a clue to how Leonardo got his last name?

Fred used a piece of cheese to block a stream of water heading toward his sandwich (soggy sandwiches are gross!). After Leonardo saw this, it inspired him to create what invention that helped Lord Borgia to take over the city of Urbo?

Joe says that it is too hard to describe what it feels like to time travel. He compares it to trying to describe the taste of chocolate ice cream to someone who had never tasted it before. Can you describe the taste of chocolate ice cream?

10. Sam wants to return to Italy to talk more with Leonardo. Joe isnt sure. Would you want to spend more time with Leonardo or move on to a new time warp adventure?

11. If you could be a time traveler like Sam, Joe, and Fred, what time period would you like to travel to? Where would you want to go? Who would you want to meet while you are there?

Alternate Reality Book Discussion Questions Ages 912

The Templeton Twins Have an Idea by Ellis Weiner

Professor Elton Templeton was a respected engineer and inventor. What happened in his office at Elysian University on the day his twins Abigail and John were born?

A tragic event occurred in the Templeton family when the twins were 12 years old. What was the event, and how did it affect the twins and their father?

The books Narrator repeated that he was being forced to tell the story of the Templeton twins. Do we learn who the Narrator was? Do we learn who was forcing him to tell the story and/or why? Do you enjoy writing? Why or why not? If you do like to write, do you create stories, poems, songs, or something else?

Abigail and John each had hobbies and interests that helped save their lives. What were they? Do you have any interests or hobbies?

What was Johns favorite quote to say, and what does it mean?

Abigail and John wanted to get a dog. They knew they needed to devise an unusual way to ask their father for one. What was their plan and were they successful? Have you ever asked for a pet?

What is unusual about the illustrations in the book? How do they relate to the interests and talents of the characters?

What was the FACAPPTWCOM and how did it work? Who was it designed to be used by?

Professor Templeton took a new position at the Tickeridge-Baltock Institute of Technology. What was the nickname of the school?

10. What was Professor Templetons most recent invention?

11. Who interrupted Professor Templetons speech at the university? Describe the appearance of this individual. What is this persons reason for confronting Professor Templeton? Professor Templeton said, What matters is not what ideas you have, but what you do with your ideas. What do you think he meant? Do you agree or disagree?

12. Who was Nanny Nan?

13. What are some of Professor Templetons inventions? Would you use any of them? Do you think he would have been successful if he had sold them to the public?

14. Do you like meatloaf? Would you make the meatloaf recipe the Narrator included in the book? What is your favorite food? What is your least favorite food?

15. What is a cryptic crossword puzzle? Do you think you would enjoy solving this type of puzzle?

16. Dan D. Dean is Dean D. Deans twin brother. Is he an identical twin or a fraternal twin? Is there a difference?

17. Did you like it when the Narrator stopped telling the story to address the reader personally? Did you find his comments distracting, or did they add to the story?

18. Dean D. Dean kidnaped Abigail and John so Professor Templeton would give him the Personal One-Man Helicopter. What was Dan D. Deans reason for helping his brother kidnap the twins?

19. Abigail knew that the words you use to think about something can determine how much success you have in dealing with it. What do you think she meant?

20. Was Dean D. Dean successful in his attempt to steal the Personal One-Man Helicopter?

21. What do you think happened to Dean D. Dean and his twin brother Dan D. Dean after the story ended? Do you think the Templeton family has seen the last of them?

22. At the conclusion of the story, Professor Templeton told Abigail and John that he had an idea for a new invention. What do you think his new invention was and/or what invention would you like to see him design?

Balloon Zip Line Book Discussion Questions Ages 710

The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich by Greg Trine

According to Headmaster Spinner, what is a superheros greatest weapon?

Who is Superhero Carl? Do you think he is worthy of the title superhero?

What two superhero activities does Melvin have trouble accomplishing?

After graduation, to what town is Melvin sent? In this town, they havent had a superhero since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Do you know who Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is? Do you think famous sports stars are like superheroes? Why or why not?

Whats the first rule of the superhero code? Why do you think this is important enough to be the number-one rule?

Melvin took an unusual flight to Los Angeles. What was so unusual about it? If you could do it safely, would you want to fly this way?

Melvin likes math. He even uses word problems to relax. Do you like math? What do you do to relax?

What is Melvins favorite cartoon? What is your favorite cartoon and why?

What is Melvins superhero weakness? If you were a superhero, what do you think your weakness would be?

10. What character does Candace Brinkwater play in the school play?

11. From where does Melvin derive his superhero powers? How did you find out that his superhero powers come from his cape?

12. Since Melvin and Candace couldnt both wear the cape at the same time, what solution did the two teammates find?

13. What was the one thing that everyone noticed first about the McNasty family? The sense of smell can be very powerful. Is there something that other people like, but you dont enjoy the smell of?

14. Since Melvin and Candace share the same superhero cape, they have the same superhero weakness. How do the McNasty brothers find out Melvin and Candaces superhero weakness?

15. How are Melvin and Candace able to escape from being held hostage by the McNasty brothers?